Johannes and Mortier, Cornelis Covens Paintings

Johannes Covens and Cornelis Mortier were partners in a map publishing venture in Amsterdam during the 18th century. They are not to be confused as a single artist but were collaborators whose combined efforts produced a significant number of maps and atlases that were highly regarded for their quality and accuracy.

Johannes Covens was born in 1697 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was the son of the bookseller and publisher Cornelis Covens I. Johannes eventually took over his father's business and expanded it into one of the most prominent map publishing houses in Europe.

Cornelis Mortier, on the other hand, was born earlier, in 1658, also in Amsterdam. He established himself as a bookseller and publisher in Paris before returning to Amsterdam. In 1721, Mortier's widow, after his death in 1719, joined forces with Johannes Covens to continue the business under the name 'Covens & Mortier.'

The collaboration between Covens and Mortier was based on the acquisition of the stock of French cartographer and map publisher Pierre Mortier, who was Cornelis Mortier's uncle. Pierre Mortier had built a substantial collection of plates and maps, many of which were based on the work of French cartographers such as Guillaume Delisle and Nicolas Sanson, who were leading figures in the cartographic field at that time.

Covens & Mortier not only republished many of Pierre Mortier's maps but also revised and updated them, as well as producing their own original maps and atlases. Their work was known for its high-quality engravings, detailed cartographic information, and artistic decoration. They often embellished their maps with elaborate cartouches and other decorative elements that were characteristic of the Baroque period.

The maps and atlases produced by Covens & Mortier were widely distributed throughout Europe and were used for both scientific purposes and general education. Their work contributed significantly to the spread of geographical knowledge during the 18th century.

After the death of Johannes Covens, his son, Cornelis Covens II, continued the business in partnership with Mortier's family until the end of the 18th century. The firm of Covens & Mortier remained active until the late 1800s, leaving behind a legacy of important cartographic work.

Johannes Covens passed away in 1774, marking the end of an era for the Covens family's involvement in map publishing, although the firm continued under different leadership. The work of Covens and Mortier remains of interest to collectors, historians, and enthusiasts of cartography to this day.